Camair-Co (QC, Douala) has secured a XAF30 billion (USD50 million) loan from Pan-African financing house, Ecobank, ahead of the implementation of its restructuring programme.

Camair-Co general manager Jean Paul Nana Sandjo told a press conference last week that the funds would be put towards fleet renewal, the establishment of MRO workshops, and IT infrastructure.

Alongside its current fleet of one B767-300(ER), two B737-700s, and two MA60s, the national airline intends to acquire an additional B767 as well as three B737 Classics.

"We will add a Boeing 767 for the route to Paris CDG, three B737-300s or B737-400s for the other routes," Sandjo told the state newspaper on Wednesday last week. "The B737 we take may consume more, but in terms of profitability, amortization and efficiency [...]; and what's more, for the price of one new generation aircraft, we can buy three [Classics]. We therefore can reduce costs and make gains over time."

The other two aircraft will be freighters though he did not specify their types.

Running a monthly deficit of XAF1.5 billion (USD2.48 million), Sandjo says the larger fleet will allow the Cameroonian flag carrier to expand its network to include Malabo, Bangui, Dubai International, Dakar Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International, and China thereby boosting revenue inflows. As government has forbidden the retrenchment of workers, the airline must instead grow its operations to sustain its workforce, which currently stands at 700.

Camair is also to open its own MRO base at home as it moves to curb the need for maintenance to be carried out in Europe. Sandjo said the airline aimed to save XAF1.57 billion (USD2.59 million) in MRO fees as well as downtime which impacted on the airline's reliability and the cancellation of flights.

"We will reduce maintenance costs by opening new workshops for wheels and brakes, structures etc. as their servicing costs us a billion CFA francs per year. Next to this, the ticket booking component, accounting and other areas that cost us dear because they were still contracted to third parties, will also be reduced," he said.